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March 18,1924.- 1,487,620

a. a. moms WIRE 'IVBRMINAL Filed Dec. 7; 1920 mvzuma GEOR 66' B. Tnomns Patented Mar. 18, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE B. THOMAS, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE BRYANT ELEG- TRIC COMPANY, OF BEIDGEPOBT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

WIRE TERMINAL.

Application filed December 17, 1920. Serial No. 431,403.

To all? whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Gnonon B. THOMAS, a citizen oi the United States of America, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire Terminals, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to wire terminals, and particularly to wire terminals for'rotary snap switches or the like. The object of my invention is to provide a post of improved type, particularly designed to afford an efficient connection for the leading-in wires of a rotary snap switch of the surface type, the particular object of my invention bein to combine ru and construction withcompact arrangement of the parts, and complete removal of the wire end or beards from possible escape into the path traveled by the rotary switch blades.

In the accompanying drawings- Fig. 1 is a plan view partially in section of a rotary snap switch to which a terminal embodying my invention in one form is applied;

Fig. 2 is a broken side elevation thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective of the terminal with binding screw and switch contact removed.

As here indicated, the present terminal is mounted upon a switch base 5, upon which is centrally arranged a rotary switch mechanism 6 of any suitable sort enclosed by the casing '7 and operated by the switch handle 8 projecting above the latter. The leading in wires, one of which, 9, is shown, pass through holes 10 piercing the base 5 in its peripheral area, and are connected to the terminals to which the invention relates.

1n the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the terminal comprises a base flange 11 provided with tapped holes 12 at its opposite ends to receive screws 18 passing through the base and serving to secure the binding post in position thereon. A central notch 14 at one side of the base flange 11 registers with the wire hole 10 in the base 5 to permit the lead wire .9 to rise therethrough. Straddling the notch 14 are standards 15 and 16, preferably integral with the base flange 11, and also with the tapped lug 17 ofl'set in the same direction as the base flange 11 and tapped at 18 to receive the binding screw 19 by which the bared end of the leading-in wire is mechanically secured and electrically connected to the terminal. An Lip-standing flange 20, or equivalent up-standing ears, are formed on the lug 17 and serve to house-in the bared wire end beneath the head of the binding screw, and thus prevent its escape into the path of the rotary switch blades. Each of the standards 15 and 16 is pierced at 21 to receive rivets 22, by which the switch terminals 23 are secured to the binding post. As shown in Fig. 2 these terminals may lie in different planes to cooperate with the switch blades in accordance with well understood practice.

As is clearly seen in Fig. 2, the leading-in wire 9 rising through the notch 14, occupies the space 24 between the standards 15 and 16 and the notch 25 in the lug 17 the bared end being bent over at right angles, and confined beneath the head of the binding screw and the surrounding housing-in flange 20 on the lug 17.

This construction has the advantage of affording a straight upward path for the leading-in wire to the binding screw lug 17, while permitting the binding post to be spaced out from the axis of the switch a sufficient distance to properly accommodate the switch blades, and at the same time requiring no material enlargement of the diameter of the base In switches of large capacity, such as are used to control heater units, the compactness of the base rendered possible by use of a wire terminal of the present character, is a matter of considerable practical value.

it will also be noted that this terminal is readily manufactured from sheet metal, stamped to shape, the space 24 between the standards 15 and 16, and the notches 14 and 25 forming a continuous slot in the blank, which is then bent to the shape indicated.

Various modifications and variations in details of construction in the wire terminal will readily occur to those skilled in the art, without departing, however, from what I claim as my invention.

I claim- 1. A wire terminal comprising a standard with integral base and top flanges offset therefrom in the same direction, said standard being divided by a slot extending between said flanges, and the flanges notched in register With said slot to accommodate a Wire.

2. A Wire terminal comprising a pair of Standards spaced apart to receive a leadingin Wire between the same, a notched lug at the top of the standards, the notch in said lug registering With the space between the standards, said lug having a hole tapped to receive a binding screw.

3. A Wire terminal comprising a pair of standards spaced apart to receive a leadingin Wire between the same, a notched lug at the top of the standards, the notch in said lug registering With the space between the standards, said lug having a hole tapped to receive a binding screw, together with securing means tying together the base of the standards and notched to aiford a Way registering With the notch in the top lug to accommodate the leading-in Wire.

4-. A' Wire terminal comprising a pair of spaced standards, a flange integral therewith and offset from the base of said standards and tapped to receive securing means, said base flange being notched in register with the space between saidstandards, in combination With atop lug offset from said standards and integral therewith and overlying the base lug, said top lug being notched in register With the notch in the base flange and tapped to receive a binding screw.

5.- A Wire terminal comprising a standard of relatively heavy sheet metal, With offset base and top lugs, respectively tapped to receive securing and binding screws, said independent legs and affording registering notches in the said lugs, for the accommodation of a leadivire,

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification.

GEORGE B. THOMAS. 

